To be certified as organic, a grower or product handler must meet a set of stringent requirements under the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP).

Receiving the USDA Organic Certification Seal demonstrates Artizan Coffee's ongoing commitment to a healthy planet and assures consumers that the company, products and individual ingredients meet NOP standards, which require that organic crops must be grown on land that has a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion and the loss of nutrients in the soil, has been free from prohibited pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers for three years preceding growth and is processed and packed without the involvement of any chemicals.

"Conventional coffee is among the most heavily chemically treated foods in the world," said Mr. Abril. "It's a commodity crop that is typically saturated with synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides - all of which can be extremely hazardous to farmers, the environment that they rely on to sustain themselves, the surrounding communities and the end consumer."

He added: "The benefits of organic coffee are significant. A USDA organic certified coffee capsule for the Nespresso market is long overdue and we are proud to be the first to offer it."

With its commitment to only 100% organic specialty coffee that is slow-roasted in small batches, Artizan Coffee is taking a fundamentally different approach to capsule coffee production.

When you purchase Artizan's coffee, you are consuming an eco-friendly product that was roasted within days, not months, of ordering. You get the highest quality coffee in the form of a convenient, Nespresso compatible capsule.

Artizan Coffee retails for $6.99 per box of 10 capsules and is available for purchase at www.artizancoffee.com.

Artizan Coffee Company is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Nespresso or any of its affiliates. Nespresso® is a registered trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.